Review: Wizards in November

If AD can stay off the bench, and Tapscott can work
his hand signals just right, the Wizards might make
December their month (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

November was not the kindest month for the 2-12 Washington Wizards, nor was it a kind time for fans.  Will December be any easier?

Over the course of November, Antonio Daniels, the Wizards backup point guard to Gilbert Arenas, would have to rehab his sore right knee and missed six games as a result.  A recovering Gilbert Arenas, out until at least January, would have to explain the media's misdirection on an otherwise hopeful sentiment.  And most of all, tenured and esteemed head coach, Eddie Jordan, would be tossed to the wayside for interim head coach, Ed Tapscott, who, in transition, would have the awful task of trying to prevent the spin on Arenas' sentiment from turning true: the Washington Wizards becoming the worst team in the NBA.

Winning one of every six games is fairly accurate of a next-year first round dream-pick, if you apply even the slightest of spin.  And at first glance, December doesn't look any easier.  The Lakers.  Boston.  Even Portland.  And if the Wizards lose to Oklahoma City, they might as well focus on the All-Star game and then just go through the motions until time runs out in the regular season.

November did not epitomize the capabilities of a healthy Washington Wizards team, but it's been so long since anyone has seen a healthy Washington Wizards team that defending team injuries feels rather redundant.  Nonetheless, of the fourteen games the Wizards have played this season, keep in mind they had no Gilbert Arenas, who would have been their starting point guard, as well as no Brendan Haywood, who would have been their starting center.  Then consider in six of those fourteen games, the Wizards did not have the luxury of their back up point guard in Antonio Daniels.

Thus, a 2-12 start, a shake-up at the head coach position and underlings below, as well as a whole bunch of questions as to where the Wizards will be by the end of the year, and possibly even what their roster will look like by the start of next year, Tim Duncan prototype or not.

Then consider the Southeastern division, with the emergence of the Atlanta Hawks on a trade for Mike Bibby, the Olympian growth of Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic, and the resurgence of last year's down-trodden Miami Heat by the work of one Dwayne Wade.

Maybe Washington will fair better this week, outside of their own division.

On Tuesday, the Wizards challenge the Nets in New Jersey, then Portland at home on Wednesday.  The Wizards will close the week with a Friday match-up against the Los Angeles Lakers, and then a Saturday game at Chicago to challenge the Bulls.  Another four games in five days.  Could the Wiz break the Lakers all-mighty win streak, should it still remain by then?

Well, let's just try to get that win against home-stealing New Jersey, first.